Ryanair to scrap printed boarding passes next week: Here's what you need to know
Low-cost airline to impose a €55 fine on passengers who just show up with a printed pass
Ryanair will ban paper boarding passes from Wednesday, November 12, with passengers expected to present their digital boarding pass (DBP) at the airport gates or possibly face a €55 fine.
Online check-in can be completed on the airline's website, Ryanair.com, or on the Ryanair app.
The move has been met with widespread criticism all over Europe. Many critics, including passenger rights advocates and charities representing older people, have raised concerns that the policy could be exclusionary and discriminatory against those who are less tech-savvy or do not own smartphones.
Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary has dismissed these concerns as patronising, expressing confidence that passengers will adapt quickly to digital boarding.
The popular airline estimated that around 20% of its over 200 million passengers per year still arrive at the airport with printed boarding passes.
Europe's popular low-budget airline is a favourite among Maltese travellers, and currently operates 57 routes. In September, the low-cost airline added six new routes to Malta's winter schedule, including Glasgow, Gothenburg, and Palma de Mallorca.
In 2024, Ryanair carried almost half of all passengers to Malta, with Ryanair's boss suggesting it has become the country's "unofficial national airline".
The airline said the move to paperless will deliver a "faster, smarter and greener travel experience". Ryanair says DBP lowers airport costs and passenger fares, and improves customer service and rebooking during flight disruptions.
All Ryanair passengers will still receive email reminders to check-in online 48 and 24 hours before departure. If passengers arrive at the airport but fail to check in online, they will be required to pay the airport check-in fee.
Once checked in online, the digital boarding pass will appear on the customer's Ryanair App.
What if I don't own a smartphone or a tablet?
If a passenger does not own a smartphone or tablet, they will receive a free boarding pass at the airport, as long as they have already checked in online before arriving at the airport.
Without a smart device, the passenger will not be able to access real-time flight updates, so they would not be able to know if their flight is delayed or cancelled.
What happens if I lose my smartphone or tablet?
If the passenger has already checked in online, they will receive a free boarding pass at the airport. Passengers will also receive a free boarding pass if their phone or tablet runs out of battery or is not working before airport security.
In the case a passenger has already checked in online and lost their phone or tablet (or runs out of battery) after security but before boarding the gate, the passenger's details would already be on the airline's system and they will be assisted at the gate.
What if the airport's WI-FI is poor or I have no mobile data?
Again, if a passenger has already checked in, their DBP will be available offline in the Ryanair App. So there is no need for strong WI-FI or use of mobile data.
Ryanair's DBP meets all accessibility standards and special assistance is available at all airports.